YWCA Canada supports the implementation of the national firearms buyback program as an important step toward reducing gun violence and preventing femicide in Canada. As intimate partner violence, femicides, and shootings continue to devastate communities across the country, measures that reduce the presence of firearms (particularly in the home) are critically important.

For nearly 30 years, YWCA Canada and community-based YWCAs across the country have advocated for gun control as part of a broader approach to preventing gender-based violence. As Canada’s largest provider of gender-based violence shelters, we know that the presence of firearms can significantly increase the risk of lethal harm in situations of intimate partner violence and coercive control.

The firearms buyback program has the potential to reduce access to some of the most dangerous weapons and to contribute to safer communities. While this program alone will not address the full scope of gun violence, it is a necessary step within a broader, comprehensive gun safety framework.

As the epidemic of gender-based violence persists, continued action is needed alongside the buyback program to strengthen gun safety and protect those most at risk. These efforts must be paired with a well-funded National Action Plan to End Gender-Based Violence, investments in income security and poverty reduction, and policies that centre the voices of survivors. YWCA Canada remains committed to working in coalition to support evidence-informed measures that reduce gun violence and advance the safety and well-being of women, gender diverse people, and communities across Canada.